1911 Wills Scissors / Green Star & Circle Jim Driscoll. This set featured a total of 36 boxers and was printed by Wills for its Scissors brand cigarette cards as well as its Wills cigarettes. The Wills cigarette cards have a star and circle logo on the backs, which is where that set gets its name. In all, these are two different sets but utilize the same cards. The cards featured color pictures of fighters along with their names at the bottom. The cards are recognizable with the names of the boxers being printed inside of a yellow box. Backs of the Scissors cards were printed in red ink and featured a cartoon image of the Scissors cigarettes package as well as a brief bio of the subject featured. Green Star & Circle cards mention Wills Cigarettes. Wills produced several cigarette cards with boxing cards, including another set for its Scissors brand. Two years after this issue, the company distributed a set for Scissors cigarettes products featuring boxers in the British Army. The cards are not entirely rare but, as an earlier international issue, they are not wildly abundant in the U.S. like domestic issues or the later international sets.
I wish I could find the photo to match up with this card but it's just not available, the 1923 Burstein Isaacs Jim Driscoll, this is my favorite Driscoll card, very unique image of Driscoll.
Johnny Dundee, a legendary fighter known for his immense endurance, fought approximately 330 to 350+ professional bouts during his career from 1910 to 1932. Different sources cite slightly different totals due to the "no decision" era, with figures including 331, 335, and roughly 350, only two fighters in history, Len Wickwar (463) and Jack Britton (350) had more fights than Dundee. Known as "The Scotch Wop", Dundee faced all of the great fighters in the featherweight, lightweight and junior-lightweight divisions of his era. He fought the great Benny Leonard nine times, and Lew Tendler three times. He also boxed lightweight champions Freddy Welsh and Willie Ritchie. Dundee was regarded as a skillful boxer with great footwork, he won the featherweight and junior lightweight world titles. Dundee had a chin made of granite, he was knocked out only twice in his career. I guess we'll start with the 1920 W529 strip card. This card is really cool and it has a reverse image variation.
That was of Johnny Dundee was also used for his 1946 Propagandas Montiel cards, these were a Cuban issue that have two different variations, a yellow border and orange border.
1923 Burstein Isaacs Johnny Dundee, Capitals variation. These cards were issued with two types of variations, the fighter's name in a mixture of lower-case letters and capital letters or "mix type", and the fighter's name in all capital letters, "capitals". I believe the capitals variation is a bit more scarce but I'm not 100% sure.
Here is the 1923 Burstein Isaacs Johnny Dundee with the "mix type" letters variation, with his name being a mixture of lower-case and upper-case letters. This is absolutely fascinating stuff and it's the kind of thing you could easily miss if you didn't know about it.
At the age of only 16-years old, Jackie Fields won the Olympic gold medal in the featherweight division at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, becoming the youngest boxer to ever receive an Olympic gold medal. In the pros, he proved to be the real thing, winning the world welterweight title twice, in 1929 and 1932. A great scientific-minded boxer with a granite chin, he was stopped once in 86 fights. This is a beautiful 1948 Leaf Gum Jackie Fields.
Bob Fitzsimmons, "Ruby Robert", one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters ever, first man to win world titles in three separate weight divisions, middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight, also one of the most frightening punchers in boxing history. He carried his incredible knockout power across all three divisions, often knocking out much larger opponents. He maintained high stopping power throughout his career, with a knockout ratio of over 90%. This is the 1890 Mayo's Cut Plug Bob Fitzsimmons.
1902 Ogden’s Cigarettes General Interest Series F - Bob Fitzsimmons. Between 1901-02, Ogden's produced four card of Bob Fitzsimmons, all of them have the same image on the front but different variation back, all of these cards are difficult to find.
This is the 1902 Ogden's Composite Tabs With "Labour" Clause back Bob Fitzsimmons. These cards were issued with a text disclaimer on the reverse side regarding the labor conditions under which the cigarette tabs were made. Very cool card.
Bob Fitzsimmons had a few nicknames, "Ruby Robert" and also "The Fighting Blacksmith" because he was actually a blacksmith in his spare time, which probably helped him develop his murderous punching power. He was also nicknamed "The Freckled Wonder" because he was covered in freckles. Here's a cartoon portraying the freckles and also portraying his brutal punching power, in particular his "solar plexus punch". He invented the "solar plexus punch", a punch to the solar plexus part of the body, it was ruthless and devastating, a precise body blow—often described as a half-uppercut, half-hook—that targeted the nerve cluster in the midsection, he took James Corbett out with it in 1897 to win the world heavyweight title. The 1897 blow was so profound it popularized the term "solar plexus" in general society. I have to say, Fitzsimmons was legit intimidating as hell, he was tall and lanky, the freckles gave him an eerie appearance and he just looked like a freak of nature, and knowing how hard he hit, he's not a guy you wanted to see standing across from you in the ring.
Here's a photo of Bob Fitzsimmons admiring his handy work, staring at James Corbett after knocking him out with the "solar plexus punch" on March 17, 1897. Cold as ice.
And the thing is, James Corbett was the first boxer to apply science to the sport, a great scientific-minded, strategic fighter, he was out-thinking and out-boxing Fitzsimmons for most of the fight, and then boom, just like that. You were never safe against Fitzsimmons. Great image of Fitz as a blacksmith.
Comments
1912 Cohen Weenan & Co. Jim Driscoll, it's a shame I can't find a scan of the elusive Gray back variation.
1911 Wills Scissors / Green Star & Circle Jim Driscoll. This set featured a total of 36 boxers and was printed by Wills for its Scissors brand cigarette cards as well as its Wills cigarettes. The Wills cigarette cards have a star and circle logo on the backs, which is where that set gets its name. In all, these are two different sets but utilize the same cards. The cards featured color pictures of fighters along with their names at the bottom. The cards are recognizable with the names of the boxers being printed inside of a yellow box. Backs of the Scissors cards were printed in red ink and featured a cartoon image of the Scissors cigarettes package as well as a brief bio of the subject featured. Green Star & Circle cards mention Wills Cigarettes. Wills produced several cigarette cards with boxing cards, including another set for its Scissors brand. Two years after this issue, the company distributed a set for Scissors cigarettes products featuring boxers in the British Army. The cards are not entirely rare but, as an earlier international issue, they are not wildly abundant in the U.S. like domestic issues or the later international sets.
I wish I could find the photo to match up with this card but it's just not available, the 1923 Burstein Isaacs Jim Driscoll, this is my favorite Driscoll card, very unique image of Driscoll.
Alright, let's get some music in here. I'll tell you what, Elton John could flat-out bring the house down.
Johnny Dundee, a legendary fighter known for his immense endurance, fought approximately 330 to 350+ professional bouts during his career from 1910 to 1932. Different sources cite slightly different totals due to the "no decision" era, with figures including 331, 335, and roughly 350, only two fighters in history, Len Wickwar (463) and Jack Britton (350) had more fights than Dundee. Known as "The Scotch Wop", Dundee faced all of the great fighters in the featherweight, lightweight and junior-lightweight divisions of his era. He fought the great Benny Leonard nine times, and Lew Tendler three times. He also boxed lightweight champions Freddy Welsh and Willie Ritchie. Dundee was regarded as a skillful boxer with great footwork, he won the featherweight and junior lightweight world titles. Dundee had a chin made of granite, he was knocked out only twice in his career. I guess we'll start with the 1920 W529 strip card. This card is really cool and it has a reverse image variation.
That was of Johnny Dundee was also used for his 1946 Propagandas Montiel cards, these were a Cuban issue that have two different variations, a yellow border and orange border.
1923 Burstein Isaacs Johnny Dundee, Capitals variation. These cards were issued with two types of variations, the fighter's name in a mixture of lower-case letters and capital letters or "mix type", and the fighter's name in all capital letters, "capitals". I believe the capitals variation is a bit more scarce but I'm not 100% sure.
Here is the 1923 Burstein Isaacs Johnny Dundee with the "mix type" letters variation, with his name being a mixture of lower-case and upper-case letters. This is absolutely fascinating stuff and it's the kind of thing you could easily miss if you didn't know about it.
1940 Kemmel Les Vedettes Sportive Johnny Dundee.
1955-56 Swedish Masters of the Ring Johnny Dundee.
A couple of cool Johnny Dundee Police Gazette Gallery of Champions premiums here.
1927 York Caramel Johnny Dundee. Extinction-level rare.
At the age of only 16-years old, Jackie Fields won the Olympic gold medal in the featherweight division at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, becoming the youngest boxer to ever receive an Olympic gold medal. In the pros, he proved to be the real thing, winning the world welterweight title twice, in 1929 and 1932. A great scientific-minded boxer with a granite chin, he was stopped once in 86 fights. This is a beautiful 1948 Leaf Gum Jackie Fields.
1948 Leaf Gum Jackie Fields with cream back, I love the 48' Leaf cream backs.
1938 American Sweets Knockout Bubble Gum NX5 Jackie Fields. Rare as the Dodo Bird.
Awesome image of Jackie Fields after regaining the world welterweight title from Lou Brouillard in 1932.
Bob Fitzsimmons, "Ruby Robert", one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters ever, first man to win world titles in three separate weight divisions, middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight, also one of the most frightening punchers in boxing history. He carried his incredible knockout power across all three divisions, often knocking out much larger opponents. He maintained high stopping power throughout his career, with a knockout ratio of over 90%. This is the 1890 Mayo's Cut Plug Bob Fitzsimmons.
1902 Ogden’s Cigarettes General Interest Series F - Bob Fitzsimmons. Between 1901-02, Ogden's produced four card of Bob Fitzsimmons, all of them have the same image on the front but different variation back, all of these cards are difficult to find.
This is the 1902 Ogden's Composite Tabs With "Labour" Clause back Bob Fitzsimmons. These cards were issued with a text disclaimer on the reverse side regarding the labor conditions under which the cigarette tabs were made. Very cool card.
1996-98 Japan World Boxing Bob Fitzsimmons.
Bob Fitzsimmons had a few nicknames, "Ruby Robert" and also "The Fighting Blacksmith" because he was actually a blacksmith in his spare time, which probably helped him develop his murderous punching power. He was also nicknamed "The Freckled Wonder" because he was covered in freckles. Here's a cartoon portraying the freckles and also portraying his brutal punching power, in particular his "solar plexus punch". He invented the "solar plexus punch", a punch to the solar plexus part of the body, it was ruthless and devastating, a precise body blow—often described as a half-uppercut, half-hook—that targeted the nerve cluster in the midsection, he took James Corbett out with it in 1897 to win the world heavyweight title. The 1897 blow was so profound it popularized the term "solar plexus" in general society. I have to say, Fitzsimmons was legit intimidating as hell, he was tall and lanky, the freckles gave him an eerie appearance and he just looked like a freak of nature, and knowing how hard he hit, he's not a guy you wanted to see standing across from you in the ring.
Here's a photo of Bob Fitzsimmons admiring his handy work, staring at James Corbett after knocking him out with the "solar plexus punch" on March 17, 1897. Cold as ice.
And the thing is, James Corbett was the first boxer to apply science to the sport, a great scientific-minded, strategic fighter, he was out-thinking and out-boxing Fitzsimmons for most of the fight, and then boom, just like that. You were never safe against Fitzsimmons. Great image of Fitz as a blacksmith.